March 19, 2005

Patricia Heaton Pleads for Terri Schiavo

Yesterday's news but still an important one. Few womens groups have supported Terri, and having Patricia on board is important.

Christian Wire Service
Two-time Emmy winner and New York Times best-selling author Patricia
Heaton pled for the life of Terri Schiavo today as Terri's
life-sustaining feeding tube was removed. Heaton serves as Honorary
Chair of Feminists for Life of America.

"We must not let Terri Schiavo be starved to death," said Heaton.
"This deliberate and painful destruction of a woman's life cannot be
justified or tolerated. Terri deserves better."

Fifteen years ago Terri's husband Michael testified in the medical
malpractice suit he filed: "I believe in the vows I took with my wife:
through sickness and health, for richer or poor. I married my wife
because I love her and I want to spend the rest of my life with her.
I'm going to do that."

But after being awarded $800,000 for Terri's rehabilitation and
lifetime care and $640,000 for his loss, Michael had a
do-not-resuscitate order placed on his wife's chart and repeatedly
denied her treatment for infections. He now lives with a woman by whom
he has fathered children.

The star of Everybody Loves Raymond says she is outraged. "By his
actions Michael Schiavo has demonstrated that he should not be the one
making the ultimate life or death decisions for a woman who, only in
legal terms, remains his wife. His belief that this was Terri's wish
counters the views of Terri's family who, no doubt, know Terri well.
Removal of a feeding tube will result in a slow starvation that is
cruel and painful."

"Feminists have always challenged the idea that married women have
no rights of their own," said Heaton. "A husband should not be granted
absolute control over his wife's fate, especially a disaffected husband
with dubious motives."

who the hell does patricia heaton think she is?
she's a freakin actress for the love of God! she reads lines off of a script! who the hell cares what you think patricia! go back to your lame sitcom, your stupid albertsons commercials,
and your bullcrap hollywood life you so often like to brag about. by the way, you're not julia roberts or catherine zeta jones. you are on a stupid sitcom. quit acting like you are.

your kid is ugly.

Posted by: bird at March 23, 2005 8:13 PM

I have no problem whatsoever with feminists, or christians, or so on and so forth, but I believe this is the most ignorant thing I have ever heard. First of all, how is it starvation if she is incapable of knowing whether or not she is hungry, someone is speaking to her, or anything?? Also, if she can't speak for herself, then why is this a feminist thing that her husband should decide for her? If she was a feminist, she would've (I assume) never gotten married and had a will stating what she wanted done. Her ex just wants to move on and let her rest in peace, which she isn't doing. Her body is just a corpse with blood pumping through it. If I went into a coma with no hopes of coming out, Pull the plug!! What an idiot you are. Stick to acting.

Posted by: Rachel Young at March 25, 2005 5:03 PM

Right on, Patricia! You are a true feminist pleading for a woman's life and not supporting the culture of death. Now that Terry's husband has all of her rehab money, he decided to betray her and keep all the money. Patricia, your critics are a pack of rat-faced, cold-blooded, Femi-Nazis!

Posted by: Gary at March 29, 2005 3:00 PM

In response to Bird; please reconsider what you wrote. Just because a person may not be aware of their surroundings doesn't mean they aren't being starved (and dehydrated) to death. Terri was NOT in a coma and indications are that she was aware. Indeed, she was only "on" a feeding tube. She was not on life support which is what most people mean when they say, "pull the plug!"
If you unquestioningly accept the assertions of Michael Schiavo and George Felos that Terri can feel nothing and is aware of nothing then I guess I could understand that someeone might argue that this is a "humane" way to kill somebody. I disagree. I think you're making a dangerous assuption on flimsy evidence.
Michael is NOT her "ex".(He has a "fiance" with whom he has two children). Had he been, Terri would be alive right now with her family that loved her dearly.
I encourage you to try to go one or two days without food OR water...it is not a painless way to die.
I hope you would go to Worldnetdaily.com for a commentary other than the usual AP, Reuters, etc. I think you will find it enlightening.